Pesticide hurting bees may be responsible for dwindling numbers of Hummingbirds

By Canadian Press

Published: July 10, 2017 at 10:28 AM

Female Rufous Hummingbird feeding from wild blue Lobelia flowers in a mountain setting in Mexico. The bird stops here on in migration to feed and rest. There are also males in the area and the patches of these wild flowers are aggressively protected from intruders. his picture would make a good subject for a painting or art card.iStock/Dopeyden

A federal government research scientist says the same pesticide that is harming honey bees may be behind declining populations of some species of hummingbirds.

A federal government research scientist says the same pesticide that is harming honey bees may be behind declining populations of some species of hummingbirds.

Christine Bishop says researchers have found a relatively high level of pesticide exposure from tests of droppings from the rufous hummingbird.

Health Canada is re-evaluating the use of an insecticide used on a large number of agricultural crops as well as a flea and tick pet treatment.

It says it will consider Bishop's information.